Securitisation Regulation hits European ABS issuance
Issuance in traditional European ABS has been notably slow in the first two months of 2019 following the introduction of the new Securitisation Regulation.

Private credit body urges regulators to remove barriers
The Alternative Credit Council (ACC) is lobbying for policy makers to remove barriers in some EU countries that restrict the ability of non-bank lenders to operate

Initial margin relief falls short of industry calls
Reprieve for many smaller counterparties from a requirement to post initial margin (IM) on derivative trades looks likely, following a statement from regulators this week

US dollar three-month is focus point for benchmarks, finds Ice Libor survey
One-, three- and six-month US dollar and sterling are the focus points for Ice Benchmark Administration to seek agreement with banks, according to the results of IBA’s survey on uses of Libor

Isda extends German CDS protocol deadline beyond March index roll
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association (Isda) has extended the deadline for market participants to adhere to its German bank CDS protocol after it became clear a number of affected parties would not be signed up in time

US and UK sound post-Brexit derivatives regulatory accord
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Bank of England have issued a joint statement assuring derivative market participants of continued access to trading and clearing after the UK’s exit from the European Union

Dentons boosts derivatives practice in London with two partner
Dentons has added two partners to its derivatives practice in London

Esma grants no-deal Brexit recognition for UK central clearers
The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has moved to avoid a derivatives market debacle by agreeing to recognise three UK-based central counterparties (CCPs) in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Behave yourselves: EBA policy advisor warns against misuse of securitisation rules
The European securitisation market has come a long way over the last decade, and the message from one policy advisor is clear – don’t do anything to mess it up.

DTCC appoints Deriv/Serv board chairman to replace Thompson
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has appointed a replacement board chairman of its Deriv/Serv credit derivatives repository following the retirement of Larry Thompson in December

SEC proposal could strengthen BDCs’ power to purchase funds
The Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) has released proposals to allow regulated US funds, including listed funds, closed-end funds and business development companies (BDCs), to acquire shares of other regulated funds in excess of current limitations

CDS lives to bring more fights as it steers past Ziggo and Sears
Credit default swaps have navigated two big tests of their rules, holding up to scrutiny on Ziggo Bond Finance (ZBF) and Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp (SRAC), despite warnings they could weaken the product

Isda sets 27 February deadline for German bank CDS protocol adherence
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (Isda) has launched a protocol for German bank CDS, as the industry looks to adapt to a change in the country’s law regarding senior financial debt

CLO market holds breath as Japan risk retention looms
Risk retention compliant US CLOs could make a comeback after the Japan Financial Services Authority (JFSA) unveiled its proposed new risk retention framework, which could tie the hands of the world’s biggest buyers of US CLOs

Market welcomes Esma loosening of securitisation regs but questions remain
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)'s revision of the reporting templates that must be completed under the securitisation regulations addresses many of the concerns raised by market participants but leaves some points of difficulty, according to industry lawyers

Bank of England agrees post-Brexit recognition of UK central clearers with Esma
The Bank of England and the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) have agreed to continue to recognise central counterparties (CCPs) and the central securities depository (CSD) established in the United Kingdom in the event of a no-deal Brexit

CDS food fight as UNFI sues Goldman Sachs over SuperValu deal
United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) has summoned Goldman Sachs to court, accusing the bank of bad faith in the way it handled the US retailer’s buyout of SuperValu last year, a transaction which caused the target firm’s CDS spread to bloat by over 200bp in one day

Isda seeks fallback spread vendor for derivatives
The International Swaps & Derivatives Association is seeking an independent service provider to calculate and publish adjustments to fallbacks it will use in interest rate benchmarks for its Isda definitions

CLO docs shed light on implementation of Securitisation Regulation
Market participants are beginning to get visibility on how European CLOs are handling the transparency obligation and the risk of fines under the European Securities & Markets Authority’s (Esma) Securitisation Regulation, according to a report on Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire

Esma requests derivatives clearing reprieve for smaller counterparties as deadline looms
With time running out for market participants to comply with a 21 June deadline to start centrally clearing over-the-counter credit and interest rate derivatives, the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has pleaded with national regulators to overlook the failure of smaller counterparties who may subsequently be absolved from the requirement in any case since thresholds are not yet finalised

Central counterparties need to improve after Nasdaq Clearing member default, says Isda
Derivative central counterparties (CCPs) must look to make a number of improvements to risk practices, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has said in a paper that follows a clearing member default at Nasdaq Clearing in September

Ziggo CDS protection buyers get a lift as DC votes for successor
Holders of credit default swap protection on Ziggo Bond Finance have received a boost, with the EMEA Determinations Committee ruling that contracts structured under the 2014 Isda credit derivative definitions have a successor – dispelling fears they would be orphaned.

BlackRock BDC seeks shareholder approval to fast-track leverage increase
BlackRock TCP Capital Corp has become the latest business development company to seek shareholders’ approval to double its use of leverage

ESAs extend reporting olive branch to European CLOs
A group of European supervisory authorities (ESAs) have raised hopes that CLOs could avoid some of the toughest reporting requirements under the securitisation regulations coming into effect in January

US regulation drives insurance money towards credit ETFs
Institutional investors are increasingly allocating to credit exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but their motivations are changing. These vehicles are famed for their liquidity, but several investors are said to be pouring money into them for the long term amid regulatory changes which have made ETF investments more favourable